Pages

Friday, December 17, 2010

Best in 2010 and looking forward to in 2011

Hello! Here is a list of my favourite books that I've read in 2010. This includes books published this year as well as books that I read for the first time this year:

Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman - I don't know about you, but I love Malorie Blackman. Her Noughts and Crosses series is magnificent and I'd been waiting to read Boys Don't Cry for absolutely ages. It's the story of Dante and his brother Adam (but you'll have to read the book to find out what Adam's going through!). On the day of Dante's A Level results, his ex-girlfriend shows up holding a baby. His baby. And when she abandons the little girl, Dante must decide whether to go forward with his plans for university or change his entire life to suit his daughter's needs.

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - This one is a debut novel and it's a beautiful book. Both in the way that it is presented and also the novel. Lennie is a book worm and band geek and she's quite happy to stay in the shadows of her older sister Bailey. But then Bailey dies suddenly and Lennie must come to terms with it. She ends up writing poems of how she feels on scraps of paper and old coffee cups and then letting the wind take them away. Beautiful story.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers - This is one of the most difficult books that I've ever read. When reading it I was sobbing so hard, with tears and snot everywhere that it was difficult to see the words on the page. It was heartbreaking reading about a very extreme case of bullying in high school. Courtney Summers just has a way of infusing all of her words with such emotion that I'm now in awe of her.

Matched by Ally Condie - This book was only published recently, but it is truly wonderful. A YA dystopic novel that follows Cassia just after her 17th birthday when the government chooses her future husband for her. In fact, this future government chooses everything for her - her clothes, her job, what food she eats. But what if the matching computers are wrong? (Isn't that a gorgeous cover?)

When I Was Joe/Almost True by Keren David - I know I'm cheating a little bit putting these two books together, but whatever! I'm making the rules here. These two books are absolutely wonderful. Keren David was able to write incredibly well from a teenage boy's perspective as he witnesses a stabbing and must go into protective custody. The first book focuses more on identity and the second more on honesty and the truth. Both books not to miss.

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness - If I was putting these books in an actual order of my favourites, than this book would definitely make the very top of the list. It's the third in the Chaos Walking trilogy and wow is it an exciting read. My heart was beating so fast that I actually had to stop reading and calm myself down before I could continue. Absolutely excellent series, if you haven't read these books, you really should!

You Against Me by Jenny Downham - This is has only just been published a few weeks ago here in the UK. It's the asolutely brilliant second book from the author of Before I Die. This time around, Downham brings us the story of two families who have been torn after allegations of a sexual assault.

And here are a few of my favourites that I read for the first time in 2010 but were published previously:

Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card - How did I go through so much of my life without having read Ender's Game? It's such an awesome book. I especially loved all the smart kids saving the world, as well as the psychology and the descriptions of battle strategies. Ender's Shadow is the same story but told from the point of view of Bean, one of Ender's lieutenants.

Nation by Terry Pratchett - I think Terry Pratchett is a genius. And while Nation isn't a Discworld novel, it's still Pratchett-funny and written beautifully. I think I read somewhere that Terry Pratchett would like to be remembered as the guy who wrote this book. And for good reason. This book is touching and funny and brings up so many interesting concepts, about what makes someone a man or woman, what constitues a nation, ideas of religion and duty. I could go on and on and on about this book. If you haven't read it, I wish you would.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart - This is probably the best YA book I've read all year, possibly ever. The main character isn't particularly likeable in the way she thinks and treats people, but she brings with her this fab message of gender equality and really works hard to be taken seriously as a female in her world.

And yes, most of these books appeared on my Best of 2010 post for the first 6 months of 2010!! It's been an excellent reading year for me.

And here is a small handful of books that I'm dying to read in 2011!

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers - Courtney Summers is one of my new favourite YA authors. Her previous two books, Cracked Up To Be and Some Girls Are were so powerful and emotional, that I will now eagerly look foward to anything new Courtney Summers publishes. And I absolutely love the colours of this cover art.

Defiance by Lili St Crow - Do you guys read the Strange Angels series? It's the only paranormal book I've included in this list, and that's because I love the series so much. Lili St Crow teams her werewolves and vampires with a gritty realism that I just can't resist. Books in the series so far, Strange Angels, Betrayals, Jealousy.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - Our November's blurbing book club selection was Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall which is definitely on my list of favourite ever books. And this, her new one is so very different but still beautifully written. It's set in a near-future where love is considered a disease and at the age of 18, each person is given the 'cure.'

Entangled by Cat Clarke - A lot of you might not have heard of this one, but it's definitely one to look out for. I have the absolute priviledge to have already read it and it's amazing. From a debut British author, this one is a sad story of one girl's experiences after she tries to commit suicide but is rescued and kidnapped by an unknown stranger.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - I have absolutely no shame whatsoever in admitting that I heart Sarah Dessen and her books. I'm always thrilled to read her love stories and her new book is no exception.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman - Oh my god, have you all read If I Stay by Gayle Forman? I absolutely adored that book. I read it in one sitting and I just couldn't put it down. Plus I was crying uncontrollably from almost the first page. And now there's talk of a movie AND this sequel. How excited am I?

What've been your favourite books to read in 2010 and which books are you looking forward to in 2011?